horse barn

[buck33k]

I have a small horse barn to wire. There will be one gfi recep in the tack room and three watertight lights up high. Wiring methods per art. 547.

A snap switch in the structure will disconnect the one 20 amp branch circuit feeding it. 225.39(A)

There will be no grounding electrode system. 250.32(A)

There will be no equipotential plane since there is no metallic equipment that may become energized accessible to the horse.

A question I have is, what are the guidlines as to what metal equipment may become energized? Is this refering only to electrical equipment like milking machines, or to gates, bars, metal feed bins, etc.? And are these latter things considered likely to become energized or not?
Also, I would like to hear any suggestions or criticisms.

Buck

 

[drg]

Try here and see www.nfec.org

 

[LarryFine]

I would say that conductive surfaces that electrical eqiupment attaches to are included, along with the electrical equipment iteslf. Think about metal ductwork and gas piping that contact HVAC equipment. The EGC of the electrical equipment usually suffices to assure the bonding of these items.

 

[George Stolz]

Buck, where do the horses get water? Is it metallic? Is it subject to freezing temps in the winter?

I just did a forum search for "livestock horses" trying to find the last time we discussed it. I found nothing conclusive, but if you do the search, there's some good reading.

I think, in general, horses are considered livestock, so 547 would apply. But many of the definitions of livestock involve "raising for food", which would exclude horses.

I think it would be a good idea at any rate to wire to the Art 547 standard.

 

[jtester]

Much livestock can sense the voltage difference between a concrete barn floor with the reinforcing conducting small amounts of current, and the ground outside. Cows will sometimes jump into a barn so they don't have 2 feet inside and two outside.

Step potentials can be fatal in certain instances. A properly designed and installed equipotential plane will also eliminate that kind of problem.

Jim T

 

[Rockyd]

Buck33,

If your wiring will take you by any horse areas, I would recommend sleeving of wiring (nm) so the horses can't chew on the wiring! Horses don't know that there is a lot of activity inside that conductor, and they seem to chew on everything.

 

[buck33k]

Many thanks for the responces and links provided. These have been helpful to me.

I found the feed and water containers are to be "poly". non-mettallic

Tomorrow I'll call the inspector for further input prior to wiring.

Thanks again
Buck

 

[BarryO]

I think, in general, horses are considered livestock, so 547 would apply. But many of the definitions of livestock involve "raising for food", which would exclude horses.

For tax and zoning reasons, in most states I would think horses are considered livestock. The horse industry would lobby the legislature to make it so.

Here in Oregon, one of the county tax guys told me that raising horses was considered an agricultural use, but commercial boarding operations were not. Go figure.

In any case, given the typical high-strung nature of horses, proper bonding is a prudent idea.